Direction indicator for automobiles



Sept. 16, 1958 E. MAS

DIRECTION INDICATOR FOR AUTOMOBILES 2 SheetsSheet 1 Filed Aug. 15. 1955 74 U0 seleclor swil'ch I INVENTOR, M M n Sept. 16, 1958 E. MAS

DIRECTION INDICATOR FOR AUTOMOBILES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 15, 1955 v INVENTOI? V w? is /////////////%////AW g s ifi United States Patent DIRECTION IWDICATQR FOR AUTOMGBELES Eduardo Mas, Rosario, Argentina Application August 15, 1955, Serial No. 528,308

6 Claims. (Cl. 340-121)) This invention relates to a direction indicator which enables the driver of a motorcar or the like, to advise when he will turn 01f the straight line.

Two types of direction indicators are known, of which the first consists of an arm mounted in a housing and coil controlled so that upon energizing the coil, the arm swings out of said housing and is thereby visible for another driver or the like. This direction indicator is relatively easily damaged and requires maintenance to assure a proper operation.

The second type is the so-called blinking type and is usually directly connected to stop lights and can only be used in those cases where two stop lights are present and further requires modification of the original electric installation.

The present invention relates to a direction indicator comprising a pair of colineal coils of opposite windings, a core slidably arranged in said coils and adapted to slide to and fro from one coil to the other coil of said pair of coils upon energizing alternately each coil thus being able to adapt two end positions, a lampholder, a pivot swingably supporting said lampholder, a link connecting said lampholder to said core for swinging said lampholder upon said core moving to and fro, first automatic switch means for controlling said coils for alternately supplying electric current to each coil in opposite relationship to the momentaneous end positions of said core, said, said first automatic switch means being connected to and automatically controlled by said lampholder due to its swinging movement, a lamp in said lampholder, second automatic switch means automatically controlled by said iampholder, due to its swinging movement, for supplying current to said lamp during either one of its swinging movements only, thereby giving a directional signal and selector switch means for controlling the supply of electric current to said first and second automatic switch means.

More particularly this invention relates to a direction indicator comprising a housing having a translucent top plate, a base plate supporting said housing, means for grounding said base plate, a pair of spaced apart brackets mounted on said base plate, a pair of colineal coils supported between said brackets and connected thereto, thereby grounding said pair of coils, a guiding bar rigidly connected to said brackets and located above said pair of coils, a ring shaped lampholder support insulatedly and coaxially mounted between said pair of coils, a bushing integral with said lampholder located below said pair of coils, the axis of said bushing being substantially perpendicular to the axes of said pair of coils, a pivot, a lampholder including a swingable front guide and a swingable rear guide rigidly linked together by said pivot mounted in said bushing, an inverted U-shaped socket support slidably mounted in said front and rear guides and straddling said pair of coils, a socket on said socket support, a lamp in said socket and facing said translucent top plate, a slide button contact insulatedly mounted in said Socket support and connected to said lamp, an elastic 2,852,759 Patented Sept. 16, 1958- ice tongue member insulatedly mounted on said rear guide and in sliding contact with said slide button contact, a stationary contact plate in constant contact with said tongue member, a driving rod supported by said socket support, a guiding roller freely mounted on said driving rod and adapted to enter in rolling contact with said guiding bar, a core slidably arranged in said pair of coils and shorter than the total length of said pair of coils, a roller mounted on each bracket, a belt connected to said driving rod and to said core over said rollers, so that said lampholder is oscillated upon moving said core along the axes of said coils, first automatic switch means for controlling said pair of coils and second automatic switch means for controlling said lamp, said first and second automatic switch means being, driven by said lampholder, said first automatic switch means comprising a bell crank lever pivotally supported by said front guide, a stem pivotally linked to said bell crank lever, a cylinder, said stem being slidably mounted in said cylinder, a helical compression spring mounted on said stem between said cylinder and said bell crank lever, a bridge contact supporting shaft slidably supported by said base plate and having two end portions and a middle portion, said cylinder being pivotally linked to said middle portion, first and second insulated bridge contacts mounted on each end portion of said two end portions, a first stationary contact and a second stationary contact each including two insulated contact plates, said first bridge contact being adapted to enter in bridging contact with said first stationary contact, said second bridge contact being adapted to enter in bridging contact with said second stationary contact when said first bridge is inoperative, a selector switch having an operating arm, a first and a second bridged contacts, a third contact and a fourth contact, said operating arm being capable of connecting an electric current supply source to said first and third and to said second and fourth contacts, one of said insulated contact plates of each stationary contact being connected to said first and second bridged contacts, whilst the remaining contact plates being each connected to one coil of said pair of coils, said second automatic switch means comprising a V-shaped support swingably mounted on said base plate and comprising a third and fourth spaced apart insulated bridge contacts, said V-shaped support being oscillated by entering in contact with said front guide, a third stationary contact and a fourth stationary contact each comprising two insulated contact plates, one of said contact plates of said third and fourth stationary contacts being each connected to said third and fourth contacts of said selector switch, whilst the remaining contact plates of said third and fourth stationary contacts being connected to said stationary contact plate in contact with said tongue member, said third bridge contact being adapted to enter in bridging contact with said third stationary contact, said fourth bridge contact being adapted to enter in bridging contact with said fourth stationary contact when said third bridge contact is inoperative.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that it is an object of the present invention to provide a direction indi cator which clearly indicates the way in which the car is to be turned and calls the attention of another driver by an intermittently moving light signal in the direction corresponding to the curve the vehicle will describe.

Another object is to provide a direction indicator which consists in a compact unit and may be either used as a single unit or in combination with another similar one, depending whether the unit is to be placed in the middle of the rear portion of the door of the boot or on both rear fenders.

Still another object is to provide a unit which maybe easily and quickly mounted in any type of motorcar and may be either hand controlled by means of a selector switch mounted on the dashboard or automatically controlled by connecting said selector switch to the steering wheel.

,These and further objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent during the course of the following description, in which by way of example a preferred embodiment is described. In the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of the direction indicator from outside.

Figure 2 is a somewhat schematic perspective view from one side of the inside of said direction indicator.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of said direction indicator from the opposte side than that shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section through the lamp holder and associated parts.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the main parts of the lampholder and associated parts, but disassembled.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a detail of the guiding device for the lampholder.

Figure 7 is a schematic plan view of the selector switch.

Figure 8 is a circuit scheme of the direction indicator, according to the present invention.

In the several figures identical and similar parts have been identified by the same reference numerals.

As may be best seen in Figure l, the direction indicator of the present invention is housed in a cover 1 having a transparent or translucent top plate 2 which is preferably V-shaped and through which a luminous signal may be transmitted.

If the direction indicator is for instance mounted in a motorcar and the driver thereof intends to turn to the right a luminous signal will be visible through the plate 2 and which signal intermittently moves from the left end portion 2' towards the right end portion 2" and if the driver intends to turn to the left the luminous signal will be visible as moving from the right end portion 2" towards the left end portion 2'.

To achieve this elfect attention is now directed to Figure 2, wherein a base plate 3 which supports practically the whole arrangement is visible. This base plate 3 supports the cover 1 (not shown in Figure 2). A pair of spaced apart brackets 4 and 5 mounted on said base plate 3, support a pair of insulated colineal coils 6 and 7, between which and in which a core 8 is slidably arranged, and which core 8 may slide from one end position adjacent to bracket 4 to the other end position (as shown in Figure 2) adjacent bracket 5. Each bracket 4 and 5 supports a roller 9 and 10 (see also Figure 3),

respectively.

A lampholder support 11 is insulatedly mounted between the coils 6 and 7 and consists of a ring (only partially visible in Figures 2 and 5) having at its lower end portion a bushing 12 projecting beneath said coils and transversally thereto.

A lampholder 13 consisting of a swingable front guide 14 and swingable rear guide 15 linked together at their bottom portions by a pivot 16 passing through said bushing 12, enables to straddle like mount the lampholder 13 on the coils 6 and 7.

An inverted U-shaped socket support 17 having a base member 17A, a front branch 17B and a rear branch 17C is slidably mounted in said swingable front and rear guides 14 and 15. Said base member 17A supports a socket 18 in which a lamp 19 is mounted, in the well known manner. The rear branch 17C insulatedly supports an outwardly projecting slide button contact 20 connected to the positive pole of the lamp 19 through insulated cable 21. The bottom portion of the swingable rear guide 15 insulatedly supports, through insulating plate 23, an elastic tongue member 22 in sliding contact with said slide button contact 20.

It may already be understood that if electric current is supplied to'tongue member 22, as will be later seen, the

current will pass through button 20, cable 21 to the filament of the lamp 19, light it, and return to ground through either or both of the guides 14 and 15, as will be likewise later understood.

A driving rod 24 provided with a guiding roller 25 is like supported by said guides 14 and 15.

A link or belt 26 is connected to both end portions of core 8 (not shown) and to said driving rod 24, preferably through a non-conducting connecting member 27 (see Figure 2) and running over said rollers 9 and 10.

It will now be understood that upon shifting the core 8 from one end position to the other, that the lampholder 13 will swing in opposite direction likewise from one end position to the other.

The base plate 3 is grounded preferably through ground cable 28.

As may be best seen in Figures 3 and 6 the rear portions of brackets 4 and 5 are linked together by a guiding bar 29 over which is adapted to roll the guiding roller 25, thereby assuring that the bottom portion of socket 18 or cable 21 may not rub and damage the insulation of the cores 6 and 7.

In order to control the intermittent electric current supply to the coils 6 and 7, a first automatic switch means 30 (see Figure 2) is supplied and controlled by the lampholder 13.

In fact, the swingable front guide 14 (see also Figure 4) supports a stub shaft 31 on which one end of a bell crank lever 32 is pivotally mounted, the other end of which is arranged in a bushing 33 integral with a stem 34 projecting out of a cylinder 35. An helical spring 36 is arranged between said cylinder 35 "and said bushing 33. The lower end of said cylinder 35 is pivotally supported through pivot 37 in a bracket 38 mounted on a bridge contact supporting shaft 39 guided in bearings 40. Each end portion of said bridge contact supporting shaft 39 insulatedly supports a bridge contact 41 and 42, respectively. Preferably each of the contacts 41 and 42 is mounted on a rubber or like pad .43 which on its turn is supported by an end plate 44 integral with the bridge contact supporting shaft 39. A stop 45 is mounted adjacent each end plate 44 for graduating the sliding movement of the bridge contact supporting shaft 39, inasmuch as these stops 45 may be moved along said shaft 39 and thereby varying the path of said stops between the bearings 40 and the stationary contacts 46 and 47 mounted on the base plate 3.

The stationary contact 46 comprises two insulated contact plates 48 and 49 and likewise the stationary contact 47 comprises two insulated contact plates 50 and 51, of which the contact plates 48 and 50 are connected through cables 52 and 53 to coils 7 and 6, respectively, whilst the contacts 49 and 51 are connected through cables 54 and 55 to a bridge 87 linking contacts 56 and 57 of a selector switch 58 (see Figure 7), to be later described.

Both coils 6 and 7 (see Figure 3) are respectively connected through cables 59 and 60 to the brackets 4 and 5 and thereby grounded.

It may now be understood that when the lampholder 13 oscillates from one end position to the other, that approximately during the first of its path the bridge contact supporting shaft 39 remains stationary and the spring is gradually compressed until the lampholder 13 has covered approximately of its path, at which moment the pivotal center of pivot 31 has passed the pivotal center of pivot 37 and the distance existing at that moment between axis X and Y and the inclination of the cylinder 35 is suificient as to enable the fully compressed spring 36 to push the bridge contact supporting shaft towards its other end position. By this arrangement a fast switching is obtained almost at the end of the path of the lampholder 13. This switching etfect will change over the energizing effect from one coil to the other, as will be later seen.

in order to control the current supply to said lamp 19, a second automatic switch means 61, automatically controlled by said lampholder 13 -is provided (see Figure 2).

As may be better seen, said second automatic switch means 61 consists of a V-shaped support 62, the base portion of which is mounted on a shaft 63 supported in a bearing (not visible) forming part of the base plate 3 and arranged below bushing 12. Shaft 63 supports adjacent to the rear side (see also Figure 3) a cam 64 in functional relationship with a leaf spring 65 rigidly mounted by means of clamp 66 on the base plate 3. Said cam 64 is inoperative relationship with the free end portion of leaf spring 65 thereby assuring that the V- shaped support 62 will quickly snap from one end position to the other.

Similar as the bridge contact supporting shaft 39, also the V-shaped support 62 supports at each end portion a bridge contact 67 and 68 respectively, each with the interposition of a rubber pad 69.

The bridge contact 67 is adapted to enter in bridging contact with the stationary contacts 70 and likewise the bridge contact 68, with the stationary contact 71. The stationary contact 78 comprises two insulated contact plates 72 and 73 and the stationary contact 71 comprises two insulated contact plates 74 and 75. Contact plate 72 is connected through cable 76 to contact 77 and contact plate 74 is connected through cable 78 to contact 79 of the selector switch 58. Contact plate 73 is connected through cable 88 and contact plate 75 is connected through cable 80 to a rigid cable arm 81 (see Figure 3), which supports a stationary contact plate 82 in constant contact with the tongue member 22.

The V-shaped support 62 is arranged in the path of the swingable front guide 14 which by its edges 14 and 14" is capable of driving said V-shaped support 62 upon oscillating said lampholder 13. More particularly it will change the position of said V-shaped supports 62 after having carried out approximately 4 of its path; however this depends largely on the angle which define the two branches of the V-shaped support 62.

As to the selector switch 58 the latter comprises a cable 83 (see Figure 7) connected to an electric current supply source such as a battery 84 (see Figure 8) which is connected to a contact plate 85 (see Figure 7) in operative relationship with a manually or a steering wheel controlled arm 86, and which is capable of adopting a neutral position which is substantially parallel to the contact plate 85 or either of two active positions, one corresponding to the position shown in Figure 7, in which arm 86 connects contacts 57 and 77 with the contact plate 85 or the opposite end position in which arm 86 connects contacts 56 and 79 with the contact plate 85.

Whilst anybody skilled in the art may already visualize the complete operation of this direction indicator, the latter will now be described particularly with reference to Figure 8.

Assuming that the selector switch 58 is in the neutral position, current is supplied from the battery 84 to arm 86 and will there stop, thus the trafficator remains inoperative.

When the driver intends to turn to the right, then the current should be so supplied that intermittent light signals are visible as moving from the left end portion 2 towards the right end portion 2" of the top plate 2 (see Fig. 1). To this end, arm 86 has to adopt the position shown in Figure 7, that is to say, it has to connect the contact plate 85 with the contacts 57 and 77. Analyzing first the circuit portion of the coils 6 and 7, it will be seen that current is supplied from the battery 84 to the arm 86 in contact 56 wherefrom it passes through bridge 87, cable 55 to contact 51, over bridge contact 41 to contact 50, through cable 53 to coil 6, thereby moving core 8 into and through coil 6 (opposite position of that shown in Figure 8). During the first of the path, the bridge contact 41 remains in contact with the con tacts 51 and 50, so that the oscillating movement or path of the lampholder 13 will almost be completed. When passing through the last /6 portion of the path, the first automatic switch means 30 will change the position of bridge contact supporting shaft 39, whereby bridge contact 41 breaks the circuit, deenergizing coil 6 and bridge contact 42 closes the circuit over contacts 49 and 48; in this position current is supplied from the battery 84 through cable 83, arm 86 to contact 57, bridge 87, cable 54, contact 49, bridge contact 42, contact 39, cable 52, coil 7, cable 66 and ground. The core 8 will now again be retracted to the start position (that shown in Figure 8), whereby the lampholder 13 is again oscillated in opposite direction and thus this oscillating movement of the lampholder 13 is continuous whilst the selector switch 58 connects the battery 84 with the circuit.

Analyzing now the lamp circuit for the example under consideration, it will be seen that arm 86 is also in contact with contact 77 which transmits current through cable '76, contact 72 to bridge contact 67, therefrom to contact 73, cable 88 to cable 21, elastic tongue member 22, to finally reach the filament of lamp 19, lighting the lamp and thereafter the current is grounded through swingable front and rear guides 14 and 15. This current supply to lamp 19 is maintained during the first of the path of the lampholder 13 from the left end 2 to the right end 2" (see Figure 1) whilst in the last A of the path of the lampholder 13 the edge 14' of the swingable front guide 14 will oscillate the V-shaped support 62 and thereby bridge contact 67 cuts the circuit and bridge contacts 68 connects contacts 74 to 75. However the lamp is not lighted, inasmuch as no current is supplied to contact 79. During the return movement of core 8 from coil 6 to coil 7, the lamp 19 is again lighted when edge 14 has pushed V-shaped supports 62 to the position shown in Figure 8, whereby bridge contact 67 again contacts contacts '72 and 73.

if the driver intends to turn to the left, arm 86 is connected to contacts 56 and 79. As to the coil circuit no changes will occur, inasmuch as contacts 56 and 57 are bridged by bridge 87 whilst in the lamp circuit, the lamp 19 will only be lighted when moving from the right end 2" to the left end 2 (see Figure 1). Whilst in the preferred embodiment two coils 6 and 7 are used, it could be possible to use a simple coil, an inverser switch and an elastic ringing means for the core to avoid equilibrium, whereby the same effect could be achieved.

Other rather obvious modifications for those skilled in the art will not be specifically described, such as any suitable means to assume a quick change over for both automatic switch means may be designed.

It should be added that stem 34 is provided with a plunger (not shown) slidably mounted in cylinder 35 so that the latter acts as a shock absorber and reduces the speed of movement of the bridge contact supporting shaft 39, so that the speed with which the lampholder 13 is displaced is sutficiently slow to obtain sufficiently long luminous signals, as will be obviously understood by anybody skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A direction indicator comprising a pair of colineal coils of opposite windings, a core slidably arranged in said coils and adapted to slide to and fro from one coil to the other coil of said pair of coils upon energizing alternately each coil, thus being able to adopt two end positions, a lampholder, a pivot swingably supporting said lampholder, a link connecting said lampholder to said core for swingfirst automatic switch means for controlling said coils for alternately supplying electric current to each coil in opposite relationship to the momentaneous end positions of said core, said first automatic switch means being connected to and automatically controlled by said lampholder due to its swinging movement, a lamp in said lampholder, second automatic switch means automatically controlled by said lampholder, due to its swinging a, '7 movement, for supplying current to said lamp during either one of its swinging movements only, thereby giving a directional sign and selector switch means for controlling the supply of electric current to said first and second automatic switch means.

2. A direction indicator comprising a housing having a translucent top plate, a base plate supporting said housing, a pair of colineal coils supported by said base plate, a lampholder swingably straddling said pair of coils, a lamp in said lampholder and facing said translucent top plate, a core slidably arranged in said pair of coils and shorter than the total length of said pair of coils, a belt connected to said lampholder and to said core, so that said lampholder is oscillated upon moving said core along the axes of said coils, first automatic switch means for controlling said pair of coils and second automatic switch means for controlling said lamp, said first and second automatic switch means being driven by said lampholder, said first automatic switch means comprising a bell crank lever pivotally supported by said lampholder, a stern pivotally linked to said bell crank lever, a cylinder, said stem being slidably mounted in said cylinder, a helical compression spring mounted on said stem between said cylinder and said bell crank lever, a. bridge contact supporting shaft slidably supported by said base plate and having two end portions and a middle portion, said cylinder being pivotally linked to said middle portion, first and second insulated bridge contacts mounted on each end portion of said two end portions, a first stationary contact and a second stationary contact each including two insulated contact plates, said first bridge contact being adapted to enter in bridging'contact with said first stationary contact, said second bridge contact being adapted to enter in bridging contact with said second stationary contact when said first bridge contact is inoperative, a selector switch having an operating arm, a first and a second bridged contact, a third contact and a fourth contact, said operating arm being capable of connecting an electric surrent supply source to said first and third and to said second and fourth contacts, one of said insulated contact plates of each stationary contact being connected to said first and second bridge contacts, whilst the remaining contact plates being each connected to one coil of said pair of coils, said second automatic switch means comprising a V-shaped support swingably mounted on said base plate and comprising a third and fourth spaced apart insulated bridge contacts, said V-shaped support being oscillated by entering in contact with said lampholder, a third stationary contact and a fourth stationary contact each comprising two insulated contact plates, one of said contact plates of said third and fourth stationary contacts being each connected to said third and fourth contacts of said selector switch, whilst the remaining contact plates of said third and fourth stationary contacts being connected to said lamp, said third bridge contact being adapted to enter in bridging contact with said third stationary contact, said fourth bridge contact being adapted to enter in bridging contact with said fourth stationary contact when said third bridge contact is inoperative.

3. A direction indicator comprising a housing having a translucent top plate, a base plate supporting said housing, a pair of spaced apart brackets mounted on said base plate, a pair of colineal coils supported between said brackets and connected thereto, a lampholder support insulatedly and coaxially mounted between said pair of coils, a lampholder swingably supported by said lampholder support, said lampholder straddling said pair of coils, a lamp in said lampholder and facing said translucent top plate, a slide button contact insulatedly mounted in said lampholder and connected to said lamp, an elastic tongue member insulatedly mounted on said lampholder and in sliding contact with said slide button contact, a stationary contact plate in constant contact with said tongue member, a core slidably arranged in said pair of coils and shorter than the total length of said pair of coils, a roller mounted on each bracket, a belt connected to said lampholder and to said core over said rollers so that said lampholder is oscillated upon moving said core along the axes of said coils, first automatic switch means for controlling said pair of coils and second auto matic switch means for controlling said lamp, said first and second automatic switch means being driven by said lampholder, said firs t automatic switch means comprising a bell crank lever pivotally supported by said lampholder, a stem pivotally linked to said bell crank lever, a cylinder, said stem being slidably mounted in said cylinder, a helical compression spring mounted on said stem between said cylinder and said bell crank lever, a bridge contact sup porting shaft slidably supported by said base plate and having two end portions and a middle portion, said cylincler being pivotally linked to said middle portion, first and second insulated bridge contacts mounted on each end portion of said two end portions, a first stationary Contact and a second stationary contact each including two insulated contact plates, said first bridge contact being adapted to enter in bridging contact with said first stationary contact, said second bridge contact being adapted to enter in bridging contact with said second stationary contact when said first bridge contact is inoperative, a selector switch having an operating arm, a first and a second bridged contacts, a third contact and a fourth contact, said operating arm being capable of connecting an electric current sup ply source to said first and third and to said second and fourth contacts, one of said insulated contact plates of each stationary contact being connected to said first and second bridged contacts, whilst the remaining contact plates being each connected to one coil of said pair of coils, said second automatic switch means comprising a V-shaped support swingably mounted on said base plate and comprising a third and fourth spaced apart insulated bridge contacts, said V-shaped support being oscillated by entering in contact with said lampholder, a third stationary contact and a fourth stationary contact each comprising two insulated contact plates, one of said contact plates of said third and fourth stationary contacts being each connected to said third and fourth contacts of said selector switch, whilst the remaining contact plates of said third and fourth stationary contacts being connected to said stationary contact plate in contact with said tongue member, said third bridge contact being adapted to enter in bridging contact with said third stationary contact, said fourth bridge contact being adapted to enter in bridging contact with said fourth stationary contact when said third bridge contact is inoperative.

4. A direction indicator comprising a housing having a translucent top plate, a base plate supporting said housing, means for grounding said base plate, a pair of spaced apart brackets mounted on said base plate, a pair of colineal coils supported between said brackets and connected thereto, thereby grounding said pair of coils, a guiding bar rigidly connectedv to said brackets and located above said pair of coils, a ring shaped lampholder support insulatedly and coaxially mounted between said pair of coils, a bushing integral with said lampholder located below said pair of coils, the axis of said bushing being substantially perpendicular to the axes of said pair of coils, a pivot, a lampholder including a swingable front guide and a swingable rear guide rigidly linked together by said pivot mounted in said bushing, an inverted U-shaped socket support slidably mounted in said front and rear guides and straddling said pair of coils, a socket on said socket support, a lamp in said socket and facing said translucent top plate, a slide button contact insulately mounted in said socket support and connected to said lamp, an elastic tongue member insulatedly mounted on said rear guide and in sliding contact with said slide button contact, a stationary contact plate in constant contact with said tongue member, a driving rod supported by said socket support, a guiding roller rreeiy mounted on said driving rod and adapted to enter in rolling contact with said guiding bar, a core slidably arranged in said pair of coils and shorter than the total length of said pair of coils, a roller mounted on each bracket, a belt connected to said driving rod and to said core over said rollers, so that said lampholder is oscillated upon moving said core along the axes of said coils, first automatic switch means for controlling said pair of coils and second automatic switch means for controlling said lamp through said stationary contact plate, said first and second automatic switch means being driven by said lampholder, and a selector switch for controlling electric current supply to said first and second automatic switch means.

5. A direction indicator comprising a housing having a translucent top plate, a base plate supporting said housing, means for grounding said base plate, a pair of spaced apart brackets mounted on said base plate, a pair of colineal coils supported between said brackets and connected thereto, thereby grounding said pair of coils, a guiding bar rigidly connected to said brackets and located above said pair of coils, a ring shaped lampholder support insulatedly and couially mounted between said pair of coils, a bushing integral with said lampholder located below said pair of coils, the axis of said bushing being substantially perpendicular to the axes of said pair of coils, a pivot, a lampholder including a swingable front guide and a swingable rear guide rigidly linked together by said pivot mounted in said bushing, an inverted U-shaped socket support slidably mounted in said front and rear guides and straddling said pair of coils, a socket on said socket support, a lamp in said socket and facing said translucent top plate, a slide button contact insulatedly mounted in said socket support and connected to said lamp, an elastic tongue member insulatedly mounted on said rear guide and in sliding contact with said slide button contact, a stationary contact plate in constant contact with said tongue member, a driving rod supported by said socket support, a guiding roller freely mounted on said driving rod and adapted to enter in rolling contact with said guiding bar, a core slidably arranged in said pair of coils and shorter than the total length of said pair of coils, a roller mounted on each bracket, a belt connected to said driving rod and to said core over said rollers, so that said lampholder is oscillated upon moving said core along the axes of said coils, first automatic switch means for controlling said pair of coils and second automatic switch means for controlling said lamp, said first and second automatic switch means being driven by said lampholder, said first automatic switch means comprising a bell crank lever pivotally supported by said front guide, a stem pivotally linked to said bell crank lever, a cylinder, said stem being slidably mounted in said cylinder, a helical compression spring mounted on said stem between said cylinder and said bell crank lever, a bridge contact supporting shaft slidably supported by said base plate and having two end portions and a middle portion, said cylinder being pivotally linked to said middle portion, first and second insulated bridge contacts mounted on each end portion of said two end portions, a first stationary contact and a second stationary contact each including two insulated contact plates, said first bridge contact being adapted to enter in bridging contact with said first stationary contact, said second bridge contact being adapted to enter in bridging contact with said second stationary contact when said first bridge contact is inoperative, a selector switch having an operating arm, a first and a second bridged contact, a third contact and a fourth contact, said operating arm being capable of connecting an electric current supply source to said first and third and to said second and fourth contacts, one of said insulated contact plates of each stationary contact being connected to said first and second bridged contacts, whilst the remaining contact plates being each connected to one coil of said pair of coils, said second automatic switch means comprising a V-shaped support swingably mounted on said base plate and comprising third and fourth spaced apart insulated bridge contacts, said V-shaped support being oscillated by entering in contact with said front guide, a third stationary contact and a fourth stationary contact each comprising two insulated contact plates, one of said contact plates of said third and fourth stationary contacts being each connected to said third and fourth contacts of said selector switch, whilst the remaining contact plates of said third and fourth stationary contacts being connected to said stationary contact plate in contact with said tongue member, said third bridge contact being adapted to enter in bridging contact with said third stationary contact, said fourth bridge contact being adapted to enter in bridging contact with said fourth stationary contact when said third bridge contact is inoperative.

6. A direction indicator comprising at least one coil having two ends, a core adopted to slide from one end of said coil to the other end thereof, thus being able to adopt two end positions, a lampholder, a pivot swing ably supporting said lampholder, a link connecting said lampholder to said core for swinging said lampholder upon said core moving to and fro, first automatic switch means for controlling said coil for alternately supplying electric current to said coil in opposite relationship to the momentaneous end positions of said core, said first automatic switch means being connected to and autw matically controlled by said lampholder due to its swinging movement, a lamp in said lampholder, second automatic switch means automatically controlled by said lampholder, due to its swinging movement, for supplying current to said lamp during either one of its swinging movements only, thereby giving a directional signal and selector switch means for controlling the supply of electric current to said first and second automatic switch means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

